Switching from tobacco to vaping can greatly reduce the risk of dying in a fire according to London Fire Brigade figures.  While cigarettes remain the biggest of cause of fatal fires there have been no recorded deaths or injuries as a result of vaping or e-cigarette fires.

On World Health Day (Friday 7 April), fire chiefs are advising smokers to quit altogether but concede that vaping holds fewer fire risks than cigarettes butts, ash, lighters and matches.

In the past three years in London, the Brigade has recorded only 14 e-cigarette fires compared to just over 3500 smoking related fires – that’s 255 times more blazes caused by tobacco smoking and unsafe disposal of smoking materials.  Smoking remains the third largest cause of accidental dwelling fires for the past five years in the capital but the single largest cause of death according to the Brigade’s data.

London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner, Dan Daly, said: “Our preference is that you stop smoking altogether but if you must smoke, vaping holds fewer fire risks than cigarettes as butts, ash and matches are often carelessly discarded  which can lead to fires.

In terms of general fire risk, e-cigarettes do present a safer option  than ordinary cigarettes but remember, just like a phone or laptop, if you use the wrong power source to charge it, this can also cause a fire.

Read more here: https://www.fire-magazine.com/switch_to_vaping_to_reduce_fire_death_risk_warns_london_fire_brigade_25769839706.aspx